That's why the summoning team showed up and sent me away, unable to do anything about it.
　It wasn't that they were close in phase or that it was a parallel world.
　It was the simplest answer.

'I didn't expect to be summoned to the exact same other world... you know, I've seen a lot of things.

　As soon as I pledge, a summoning team appears at my feet.
　However, there is a time lag until the path for the actual summoning is connected, and that time is proportional to the distance between the different worlds.
　It could be purely a difference in phase, or a different time, or many other things... but this time, we were summoned to the same other world at almost the exact same time. As a result, the time lag of the connection was reduced to zero, which means that I was summoned almost instantly.
　Well, you can't summon me like I exist at the same time..........It's a rare case that can't happen unless the timing is very much in line.
　Apparently, in this other world, the human world and the demon world are perfectly attached in front and behind the scenes and are counted as one world.

''Even so, it's been almost a month since you disappeared.
It's close enough to fit in a hundred years.

　Cianne seemed to disapprove, so I answered her lightly.
　For some reason, Cianne was kneeling on my lap as it was, so I was explaining the situation while being mature and indulgent.

''I didn't think it was possible since I couldn't find her no matter how much I searched for her, but she really was summoned.......''
Did you think I'd run away?
'Yeah, I know it's true that it's crossed my mind, but I couldn't think of any reason for you to run away, considering the difference in ability between you and me.

　Well, I guess so.
　Still, if it had been a few hundred years, they might have decided I had escaped.

'But if I was summoned, why?　You won't be summoned unless you finish your vows in this world, will you?
'Yeah, that's it!　Pledge!

　If you're summoned to another alternate world, it's pointless to think about what the previous alternate world's pledge was.
　But this time is different. Since we were summoned to the same other world.......and in the same timeline, it makes sense to find out what the pledge was.

'I will reign as the Demon King.......it shouldn't have been something like that. Then there's no way he would have been summoned at a time like that.''

　After discussing it with Sianne, it was decided that there were two possible cases.

　First, the possibility that the pledge was fulfilled.
　In the first place, it wasn't an oath that said 'I will reign as the Demon King'.

''In other words, you mean those Demon Lords were deceiving you?''
''Well I suppose that's what it's supposed to be, but I have no idea what the benefits are.''

　At least they still don't know that I'm the one who will disappear if I fulfill my pledge.
　There was no need for the pledge to be false.

　If that's the case, is it a case of an unconscious pledge like the kids from sometime ago?
　Did they think that they wanted him to reign as the Demon King, but in fact, their true intentions were different?
　But considering the number of names strung on those blood letters, it's hard to believe that they all made an unconscious pledge.
　When I was a kid, it was just the two of us and our hidden desires were clearly aligned, but it seems that the intentions of the Demon Aristocrats were quite uneven.

In that case, it's still the breaking of the vow?

　As Sianne said, another possibility is the breaking of the pledge.
　It's possible that the vow of 'reigning as the Demon King' itself was true.

''Even so, the timing is still too weird, isn't it?

　The battle with Shrezzad was sudden and unexpected. It's hard to believe that the Demon Realm nobles had planned to recall me.
　Did they betray me because they thought I couldn't win against Shrezzad?　No, I didn't see it that way.
　Of course, since I defeated Shrezzad, I got in the way, so they broke the pledge.......not impossible.
　However, the number of pledges is still too large, so it should be difficult for all of them to unknowingly recall me all at once.
　If that's the case, were you planning to get them to unanimously agree to dismiss me as unnecessary after defeating Shrezzad?　Even though you've been subjected to such a spectacular purge, knowing that you will be killed if you disobey?
　No, I don't.

No, I'm not even thinking about it.

　In these situations, I'm usually quoted as saying that there's some premise that's wrong, some oversight, or some unknown information.
　In order to clear my mind, I should do a proper investigation.

'Then why don't you ask them directly?
I love you. Don't get up so fast.

　Falling from a knee pillow is pretty painful without a cheat. And it's on the ground underneath.

'But it's a good idea,'

　Bad intentions or not, they may or may not have.
　The guy who made me look like a fool will have to pay the price for what he did to me.



"My Lord Demon King, you're safe!　Prepare the feast at once.
I don't want it. Just tell me what happened in my absence.

　While replying curtly to Biatari's second-in-command, whose name I still don't know, I walked slowly through the corridors of the Demon King's Castle with Cianne.
　As Bi-tonnu followed him cheerfully, he began to report on his recent condition.

''First of all, the seven surviving demon generals Shrezzad, Felida and Bestia have died, and since the Demon Lord is missing, the demon world has fallen into chaos,''
Okay, that's good.

　Order is boring.
　Long live the chaos.

"A new generation of Demon Lord lords has appeared claiming to be the new king of the world, but they are all small. "Now that the Demon Lord has returned, we can expect to see some quiet time.
Seriously?

　I was going to twist and turn to de-stress.
　Well, I have other things I need to prioritize right now.
　Also, I was going to ask you that thing.

"There's a rumor going around lately that the Demon Lord is back, is that true?

　You could say it's for my own self-interest to find out what the previous pledge was, but this is different.
　I need to be clear about the Resurrected Demon King that I need to defeat.

"If you're the Demon King, you returned like this, but...
No, it's not me, it's the resurrection of the previous generation. I heard a fortune telling the human world that the demon king has come back to life.

　When I told him how I went missing, Miura turned blue in the face.



　Miura's lips are quivering in some kind of bobbing lip.
　'You really don't know.

''And you guys. Did you really wish for the Demon King to reign over you when you summoned me?

　With a little killing intent, I thought I had threatened him that I would not tolerate any falsehoods.
　However, Miura didn't seem to notice it and replied nonchalantly.

'Yes, there is no doubt about it. If you have any doubt, please look at the blood certificate again.''

　Apparently, I also made sure to include something like a wish in the summons.
　If it's a blood seal, I was going to use it as an execution list, so I put it in the item box, so I'll read it.

I'm not sure what the hell is going on with that expression, it's too grandiose.
Show me.

　Sianne snatches the blood seal from the side and looks down at the text.

It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. It looks like this blood seal is the real deal.
How do you know that?

　Cianne's eyes narrowed suspiciously at my simple question.

''........Are you serious?　Look at it with an appraising eye.

　Hmm, activate the evaluation eye.

　Oh.
　Ooh, ooh, ooh.
　It's true that the magic waves are running properly, and the contract is definitely fulfilled.
　What is this, it's such a neat item?

You're really smart, Seanne.

　I was seriously impressed, but for some reason Cianne gave me a cold look.

''Well I wouldn't think of a man like this... no, I wouldn't think of a man like this...''

　He looks like he's in some kind of shock, and we'll leave him alone.

So I guess that's the pledge, then.

　I guess we don't need to torture the Demon Lord.
　"We hereby request the resurrection of the Demon King to lead the entire demon world again.
　As long as I see that Miroku's attitude and the blood seal hasn't expired, I should assume that the vow hasn't been broken.
　In other words, for some reason I fulfilled this pledge at that time........

What do we do now?
I don't have enough information.

　I also ponder on the mysterious Cyanne's question.
　In the worst case scenario, if there's no resurrected Demon King, it's possible that the Demon King of the Princess is me.
　In that case, in order to fulfill her vow, I'd have to kill myself.
　Of course, I'd have to break that pact and make a substitute.

The first thing I want to do is to find out if the previous Demon King has really come back to life or not. Can you arrange for an investigation to be carried out at various locations?　I'll leave all the details up to you.
Of course. Leave it to me, Demon King.

　Miura returned a condescending bow to my instructions and left the place.

'I'm sure we'll find out with this one, surprisingly.
I hope...

　While I'm optimistic, Cianne looks slightly uneasy.

''I ruled over the Demon King's territory while you were away, but there wasn't a shadow of the previous Demon King in sight.
''Oh, I see. Since you're the only Demon General, that means you're the highest authority...

　Even so, the fact that the demon world was disturbed means that there was a limit to the absence of the Demon King.
　I may have caused you a lot of trouble.
　I was just about to say a few words of thanks, when Sianne opened her mouth to say that this was not a problem.

I'm sure you're right, of course, but if the Demon King is back, wouldn't this be the best chance for him to come back?
'What?　Oh, I see.

　The Seven Demon Generals had been wiped out, and I, the Demon King, was also absent.
　If my predecessor had come back, he would have been able to unify the demon world at once.

In that case, he wasn't resurrected after all?

　Is it still me that the divination of the human world is showing?

''.........or is there some reason why I can't show up with such a good opportunity?

　There's something about Cianne that makes me think a lot.
　Oh, it's so much easier to have an external thinker with me after all!

It's no use. I can only guess for now.

　If Sianne says so, it must be so.
　It can't be helped if you can't think about it.

'Oh, yeah. Sianne, stay with me.

　As expected, I think I'll be fine this time, but I don't want to leave you behind again.

''What...?　Oh, oh ... okay.

　I don't know what I thought, but Sianne's face is red.
　Ever since we met again, Sianne's behavior is clearly strange.
　No, it was strange even around the time I defeated Shrezzad.
　Should I be a little cold?

''It's just that the talk of getting a chance to kill you was hazy. Tonight is the night I'm going to kill you.

　Well, I guess I'm not so bad after all.
　You are such a b*tc*.